LeRoy Edwin Froom’s research resulted in the production of the 4 volumes of the Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers.
This assignment took him across North America and Europe in search of rare books, letters, and pamphlets that told the story of how God had guided people’s understanding of Bible prophecy. Along the way, he collected thousands of priceless materials from both the Millerite movement and the early Sabbatarian Adventists. These documents now form the Advent Source Collection, housed at the Center for Adventist Research at Andrews University.
One of Froom’s most remarkable discoveries happened in Maine.1 While visiting Augusta, he asked about any descendants of Isaac C. Wellcome (1818–1895), a historian of the First-day Adventist movement who had preserved many records from the 1840s. To his amazement, he learned that Isaac’s son, Frank O. Wellcome (1862–1943), was still living in Yarmouth. Without delay, Froom and his friend, Clifton L. Taylor (1882–1963), set out to meet him.
When they arrived at Frank Wellcome’s small white house, they were warmly invited in for supper. Frank, now elderly, admitted he had little fondness for the Millerite movement that had so deeply marked his father’s life. The bitter disappointment of 1844 had left a shadow, and Frank had grown skeptical about the whole experience.
That evening, however, something changed. Froom and Taylor spoke earnestly with him about the deeper meaning of the Millerite revival—not only the failure, but also the faith, conviction, and passion for God’s Word that had driven so many to prepare for Christ’s coming. As they shared, Frank began to see the story differently. What he had viewed as shame, they presented as evidence of a Spirit-led movement that shaped the rise of a worldwide church. He went to bed deeply stirred.
The next morning, Frank led them into the attic, where the shelves of his father’s intact library still stood. Froom and Taylor could hardly believe their eyes. Here were books they had searched for many years, along with dozens more they had never even heard of. At first, they hesitated to ask for too much, but Frank surprised them. He admitted he had hardly slept and told them, “These books have no value to me, except the sentimental one—that they were my father’s. In thinking it over, I’ve been impressed to give them to you for your Advent Source Collection. I believe you need them.” His generosity did not end there. Under some chicken coops, he revealed a large wooden box filled with Adventist periodicals and letters. “These,” he said, “you can also have.”
That day, their car nearly sagged under the weight of the treasure. What could have been lost to history was instead preserved. Today, we can study these materials because God moved on one man’s heart to see the Millerites in a new light and to place their heritage into the hands of future generations. Truly, God’s providence guided not only the pioneers but also the preservation of their story.
Denis Kaiser is an associate professor of church history at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
